About time Men took responsibility for their own health

About time Men took responsibility for their own health

I try to read as much as possible about men's experiences of Prostate Cancer and the more I read the more I become increasingly frustrated. I'm upset that so many men are being diagnosed with advanced Prostate Cancer.

Its about time men educated themselves about the dangers of Prostate Cancer. 

There is plenty of information available and there are plenty of organisations promoting awareness so there is no excuse for not keeping informed.

I think it's about time for Doctors to start taking the lead to ensure that their patients are kept informed and encouraged to take regular checkups, blood tests and physical examinations.

I can't understand why men fail to get regular checkups given that Prostate Cancer is now the most common cancer in men.

• More than 47,500 men are diagnosed in the UK every year, that 130 men every day

• Every 45 minutes one man dies from prostate cancer – that's more than 11,500 men every year

• Every 45 minutes one man dies from prostate cancer – that's more than 11,500 men every year

• Around 400,000 men are living with and after prostate cancer

The survival rates of PC when diagnosed in the early stages are very good. Modern interventions do work and more men are surviving years after diagnosis.

So I wonder what can be done in the short & long term to encourage men to get checked? The Dept of Health & Social care must do more to ensure that all men are aware of the PC risks.

Today I'm writing to the Secretary of State, Nick Hancock to ask what more his department can do.

I shall encourage all of my friends and colleagues to get checked and ask them to make sure their friends and colleagues get checked.